Scaffold



Apr 19, 1949.

L. C. OERTLE ETAL SCAF'FOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 25, 1946 Aprii 1,9, 1949.

L. C. OERTLE ET AL scAFFoLD Filed Feb. 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCAFFOLD Lawrence C. Oertle, Milwaukee, and Eugene H. Simpson, Whitefish Bay, Wis.

Application February 25, 1946, Serial No. 649,898

Claims.

This invention relates to scaiolds and more particularly to sectional scaffold end frames of variable height.

In sectional scaffolds, it has been customary to build separate integral end frames for each height iof section desired. Thus a dealer had to store a large number of three, ve, six and ten foot end frames in order to meet the demands of the trade. It is obvious that if a suitable end frame with a simple rugged extension could @be devised it would reduce the amount of equipment that must be kept in stock and would have many other advantages.

One object of the invention is to provide a sectional scaffold having a vvariable height end frame.

Another object is to provide a sectional scaffold having an adjustable end frame which will be strong and rigid.

A further object is to provide a sectional scaffold which may be more readily stored.

A further object is to provide a sectional scaffold which will reduce the number of scaffold sections required to be kept in stock.

Other objects will become apparent upon considering the following specification, which when Vtaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of the invention.

In its broad aspect the invention comprises an end frame, said end frame comprising a pair of vertical posts spaced from each other, a horizontal support joining said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a second brace joining said posts and spaced from said rst brace, securing means on the lower side of said second brace, a leg having a coupling pin formed thereon engageable within one of said posts, a bracket xed to said leg and retained by said securing means, and a second leg secured in the other said post.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scaiold embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an end frame of the scaffold shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a plan View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modication of the invention showing a coupling pin for use in the scaffold.

Referring to Fig. 1, the scaffold comprises a tier of end frames, generally designated 15-15,

connected together by cross braces Iii-I6. The cross braces I6I5 have pivots l1 at the centers thereof so as to form the tier into a rigid parallelogram. Other tiers of end frames Iii-i8 may be superposed on the frames lli-l5 and held centered thereon by coupling pins 20. Cross braces (not shown), similar to the cross braces I S may iconnect the end frames of each tier.

Referring to Fig. 2 which shows a single end frame comprising a fixed section 22, having a pair of vertical tubular posts -25, spaced from each other and connected adjacent their upper and lower ends by horizontal supports 21 and 128 respectively. Shear braces -30 are shown connecting the upper horizontal support 21 with the lower horizontal support 28. The braces 30 are intended to absorb shear stresses incident in the frame and need not necessarily be vertical or connect the supports 21 and 28.

The upper ends of the posts 25-25 are provided with coupling pins 2li-2i) which have an outside diameter equal, substantially, to the inside diameter of the tubular posts 25, and are brazed in the posts. The coupling pins 29 receive and center the superposed posts of the next tier above, and form the scaffold into a unied tower.

A bolt is Welded onto each post 25 to receive the end of the cross brace I6. Wing nuts 31 (shown only in Fig. 1) fit onto the lbolts 35 to secure the cross braces I6 in place.

A tubular leg is provided as an extension to the post 25 and may be supplied in various lengths to make end frames of any given height. The leg 40 has a coupling pin 42 iixed in the upper end thereof, preferably by brazing, the coupling pin tting within the lower end of the post 25 to center the leg 40 on the post.

The lower part of each leg 40 is provided with a bolt which receives the cross brace I5, the cross brace being held in place by a wing nut 31 (shown only in Fig. 1).

A supporting bracket which may comprise a diagonal brace and a horizontal brace 52 is formed on the leg 40. The diagonal brace 50, which may be tubular has a flattened end portion 54 (Fig. 4) which is bent into a horizontal position parallel to the lower horizontal support and is provided with a slot 55 opening out through one edge. as best seen in Fig, 4.

The slot 55 fits over a bolt 51 welded on the lower side of the lower horizontal support 28. The bolt 51 has a wing nut 59 secured on the bolt 51 by peening the end of the bolt. A channel shaped retaining member is secured to the brace 28, and on the bolt 51. The retaining member 60 has a width equal to the width of the ilattened end 54, so that when the end 54 is in place on the bolt 51 it will iit into the channel and be retained in place by the wing nut 59.

Operation In operation the end frames I5 are formed by assembling the proper length of legs 40 with each fixed section 22. Each leg is assembled with the fixed section by placing the coupling pin 42 in the post 25 and rotating the bracket 5D until the slot 55 engages the bolt 51. The coupling pin may then be fully inserted in the post 25 with the leg 40 flush therewith. The wing nut may then be tightened on the flattened end 54 of the bracket 50. When the wing nut is tightened on the piece 54, the bracket is secured in the U- shaped retaining member 6U and prevented from turning. In this position the slot 55 cannot become disengaged from the bolt 51.

When the end frame is completely assembled with two legs 40 in place on each fixed section 22, the scaffold may be erected in the usual manner by joining adjacent frames I5 by suitable cross braces I6, the cross braces being secured at their ends to the frames I5 by the bolts 35-35 and 45-45, and held thereon by wing nuts 31 in the usual manner.

The scaffold may be built to any desired height by adding successive tiers of end frames to the lower tier, connection between the several tiers being made through the coupling pins 20.

It will be realized that the hereinbefore form of the invention is to be taken merely as a preferred embodiment thereof, and that various changes of size, shape and arrangement of parts `may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

That which is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a scaffold of the character described, a fixed section comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, an upper horizontal support connecting said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a lower horizontal support spaced from said upper horizontal support and connecting said posts, a bolt xed to said lower support, and a U-shaped retaining member iixed to said lower support adjacent said bolt, an extension leg abutting one of said posts, a projection secured to said leg and engaged with the said one post to maintain the post and leg in alinement, a bracket on said leg, an end on said bracket engaged over said bolt and received in said retaining member, and a nut on said bolt to retain the end of the bracket in the retaining member and the leg assembled on the post.

2. In a scaffold of the character described, a fixed section comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, an upper horizontal support connecting said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a lower horizontal support spaced from said rst named support and connecting the posts, a bolt xed to said lower horizontal support, a nut on said bolt and secured against removal therefrom, and a U-shaped retaining member secured to said lower support adjacent the bolt, an eXtension leg abutting one of said posts, means on said leg engaged with said one post to maintain the leg in alinement with the said one post, a bracket on said post, and a flattened end on said bracket having a slot therein engaged over said bolt between the nut and the support, said end, when 4 engaged on said bolt, being received in the re taining member and held therein by said nut.

3. In a scaffold of the character described, a iixed section comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, an upper horizontal support connecting said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a lower horizontal support spaced from said upper horizontal support and connecting said posts, a bolt ixed to the lower side of said lower support, and a U-shaped retaining member xed to said lower support adjacent said bolt, an extension leg abutting one of said posts, a projection secured to said leg and engaged with the said one post to maintain the post and leg in alinement, a bracket on said leg, an end on said bracket engaged over said bolt and received in said retaining member, and a nut on said bolt to retain the end of the bracket in the retaining member and the leg assembled on the post.

4. In a scaiold of the character described, a fixed section comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, an upper horizontal support connecting said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a lower horizontal support spaced from said upper horizontal support and connecting said posts, a bolt fixed to said lower support, and a retaining member having a downward projection xed to said lower support, an extension leg abutting one of said posts, a projection secured to said lei;t and engaged with the said one post to maintain the post and leg in alinement, a bracket on said leg, an end on said bracket engaged over said bolt and retained thereon by said retaining member, and a nut on said bolt to retain the end of the bracket in engagement with the retaining member and the leg assembled on the post.

5. In a scaffold of the character described, a xed section comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, an upper horizontal support connecting said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a lower horizontal support spaced from said first named support and connecting the posts, a bolt fixed to said lower horizontal support, a nut on said bolt and secured against removal therefrom, and a bracket retaining member having a downward projection secured to said lower support adjacent the bolt, an extension leg abutting one of said posts, means on said leg engaged with said one post to maintain the leg in alinement with the said one post, a bracket on said post, and a flattened end on said bracket having a slot therein engaged over said bolt between the nut and the support, said end, when engaged on said bolt, being engaged by the retaining member and held in engagement therewith by said nut.

LAWRENCE C. OER'ILE. EUGENE H. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTs Number Name Date 1,444,120 Helm Feb. 6, 1923 1,961,967 Goranson June 5, 1934 2,201,608 Causey May 21, 1940 2,311,988 Lavn Feb. 23, 1943 2,316,952 Halferty Apr. 20, 1943 2,361,614 Dugan et al Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 624,644 Germany Jan. 25, 1936 '14,591 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1917 

